D Dawson

In reply to Jacqueline NW Thompson’s letter "Provoke thought without provoking division" (Beacon, August 13), you said my letter was a blend of curiosity and concern etc.

Your comments are of concern and dangerously close to being of a personal nature. I do not own a finely tailored suit, never have.

My letter was about giving balance to all the lefty views in the Beacon who would like to rewrite history.

Your letter is lacking substance, just hearsay with no facts concerning division.

New Zealand was colonised by people well before Māori came to these shores which means Māori are not indigenous to New Zealand. When the British arrived, Māori were occupying New Zealand at the time.

We do not need separate Māori wards or race-based councillors. Māori have equal opportunity to be voted into council’s general wards.

In reply to I Stuart’s letter in the same edition, "Revealing true colour", first, you have misconstrued my letter saying I desire all Māori to assimilate.

Some Māori had a desire to assimilate and eliminate Moriori and Waitaha people, as history shows.

Concerning political heroes, it is wrong and misleading to say that David Seymour is my political hero as I do not have any political heroes.

Māori have a lot to thank colonisation for – warm houses, British surnames, dogs, cats, sheep, jobs, electricity, cars, trucks, motorbikes, stoves, ovens, fridges, television, radio, police, army, hospitals etc.

Skin colour is only skin deep; it is what is in the heart that counts.

A question from Mr Stuart: “Why does assimilation apply only to the people who were here when the immigrants arrived?'. It does not, it applies to everyone.

He says, “We expect new arrivals to assimilate into our collective cultures”. Who are you speaking for when you say, “we expect"?

I think for people to assimilate is a good thing if two people love each other. New Zealand Europeans are not taking away Māori culture. The Māori population has increased from approximately 100,000 in 1840 to 850,000 today.

God owns the land/whenua and water/wai. We are all just travellers in time.